Friday A broad area of high pressure extends across central & southern Europe, bringing extensive dry and mild weather to much of the continent. Warm sunshine for Portugal and south-western Spain, highs 18C. The eastern Costas will be fairly cloudy, and there is a risk of showers for the Balearics. Dry and sunny weather extends across Italy, the Balkans and Greece . A few thunderstorms over the central Mediterranean to the south of Sicily. Sunny and mild for France, 10 to 14C. Mostly cloudy skies for the Low Countries and northern Germany, although it will be brighter toward the Alps. A brisk westerly breeze for Poland and southern Scandinavia, although temperatures are fairly mild around the Baltic, 5 to 7C. A weak frontal system brings scattered showers to eastern Europe. Cold with some areas of snow showers for northern Norway, whilst fronts bring rain to south-western Norway later in the day. A northerly breeze for Finland, but it should stay dry.

Saturday High pressure remains across central & southern Europe bringing extensive fair weather and light winds. Temperatures generally mild. Partly cloudy for Portugal, but plenty of sunshine for Spain. Dry weather extends across much of the continent. Sunshine for France, the Alps and Italy, plus the Balkans and Greece. A cold front across northern Germany and the Low Countries brings cloud and patchy rain. A period of rain affects southern Sweden in the early hours - some snow on its northern edge. Rain moves across northern Poland and the Baltic states during the day, accompanied by blustery westerly winds. Rain on and off for Norway, most persistent in the west. Dry and very cold in the north of Scandinavia.